Locomotive spark-arrester



(No Model.)

J. K. TAYLOR.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES K. TAYLOR, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

LOCOMOTIVE SPARK-ARRESTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 247,434, dated September 20, 1881.

Application filed May 24, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES K. TAYLOR, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Locomotive Spark-Arresters; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in devices for arresting the escape of sparks and for consuming the gas and smoke usually thrown out of the smoke-stack ot locomotives, which objects I attain by the employment of the mechanism described and illustrated in the accompanying description and drawings, in which- Figure l is a vertical longitudinal section of the forward end of a locomotive-boiler, showing the smoke-box, lifting-pipe, smoke-stack, with inside blast-pipe, spark-conducting pipe, and spark-reservoir. Fig. 2 is an end elevation with the front covering or head of reservoir removed.

Similar letters refer to like parts in the differentviews.

The construction and operation of this apparatus are as follows: The sparks are drawn from the fire-box through the boiler-tubes by the force of the exhaust-steam passing up through liftin g-pipeF and blast-pipeHagainst the curved part of cone I, which diverts them down through the annular space I).

I sometimes take the sparks direct to reservoir U through the pipes a a; but I prefer to conduct them into and through the saddle L, and thence allow them to pass to the reservoir through pipes A but both sets of pipes may be used to carry them to the reservoir, where they remain until they are removed through the gate or valve -E, opening into the bottom of the reservoir.

The sparks are delivered into reservoir 0 very coarse and hot, being broken but little in their passage from the fire-box. This reservoir 0 may be formed as an extension of the ordinary smoke-box, provided with a partition, M, which separates the reservoir from the smokebox proper, having hinged doors in the partition for the purpose of easy access to the lifting-pipe and exhaust nozzle located in said smoke-box, the outer portion or spark-reservoir being ordinarily of sufficient capacity to hold the sparks for a run of one hundred miles, and made nearly or quite air-tight, to prevent the ignition of the gas and sparks collected therein.

The gate E can be opened and closed as often as necessary to remove the sparks, it being hinged on one bolt, and provided with a spring to keep it closed and form a tight joint.

The pipes D enter the spark-reservoir and are open at the end inside, near the top of the reservoir, for the purpose of relieving the pressure of hot air and gas driven in by thesame process and with the sparks. This gas passes through said pipe D into the tubes K, passing through the boiler into the fire-box or ash-pan below the grate. A small amount of pure air can be admitted to the gas as it passes up through the grates to the upper surface of the fire, thereby making complete combustion of the gas and smoke.

By this process the sparks are retained in the reservoir 0, and can be afterward utilized as fuel, if desired, instead of being thrown out of the smoke-stack or driven back into the fire in the manner now commonly practiced.

The shield Gr, attached to the partition M, within the reservoir, is for the purpose of delivering the sparks directly over the gate E, so they will readily run out when the gate is open.

The smoke'stack B is also provided with a fine-wire netting over the top, through which no fire can pass that would be likely to ignite combustible materials with which it mightcome in contact.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, the following:

1. The combination, with the spark-reservoir O and smoke-box J, separated by partition M, of the smoke-stack B, blast-pipe H, liftingpipe F, and conducting-pipes .A D, substantially as and for the purpose shown and de scribed.

2. Thecombination,withthespark-reservoir tition M, all constructed arranged, and op- 10 0, having outlet-gate E, and separated from erating substantially as and for the purpose the smoke-box J by a partition, M, having a shown and described. shield, G, of the conducting-pipes A D, sub- In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my 5 stantially as and for the purpose shown and signature in presence of two witnesses.

described. JAMES K. TAYLOR.

3. The combination, with the spark-reservoir Witnesses:

0, having outlet-gate E, of the conducting- ALDEN R. HOLDEN,

pipes A D and the shield G, attached to par- THOMAS C. CHENEY. 

